Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the city

A great many were still thinking

of Ryan Dinwiddie.

What might have been

in the 95th Grey Cup

Had the No. 2 man sat down

and Kevin Glenn stood up?

For one should not start

his career in the final

Anymore than we make

footballs of vinyl.

The lad stood up tall

high as he might

And proceeded to put up

a reasonable fight.

But four times he did give

the football away

And the Riders walked off

carrying le Coupe Grey.

The Bombers were left

realizing their worst fears

The team's championship drought

now at 17 years.

What would come of Milt?

the faithful did wonder

Had they seen the last

of his touchdown plunders?

A nation did wait

as the man went off walking

But no answer came

No. 85 wasn't talking.

So we turn our attention

to off-season chatter

And plans to take over

of one David Asper.

He plans to build new

a stadium so grand

Make the Blue Bombers

envy of the land.

There's just one small catch

a bug in the honey

He wants the whole team

and lots of your money.

The tab it would run

eighty million or so

The cost of selling

a football team's soul.

So think long and hard

I urge you today

Before taking your Bombers

and giving them away.

The dollar bill talks

so loudly, it's true

But look what it's done

to the games that we view.

Hitters on steroids

pitchers now, too

Who's clean in the bunch

anyone have a clue?

They use syringes, pop pills

even testosterone

The new chemical fad?

it's human growth hormone.

They're all frauds and cheats

plain as is day

Canseco and Clemons

and Barry by the Bay.

Tejada and Pettitte

Giambi and Sheffield

In every position

catcher to left field.

Fine examples, are they

to young fans who've been watching

And how many others

you think we'll be catching?

For if fair play

honour and grace

Are all out the window

what good is the race?

Had the tortoise shot up

before beating the hare

In that underdog story

Would anybody care?

We watch for a reason

the games people play

It's not just entertainment

as some folks would say.

Lessons of bravery

overcoming the odds

When we witness these moments

we sit with the gods.

When somebody's cheating

or acting like a clown

His illegal actions

bring all of us down.

There's always our juniors

in hockey, I s'pose

They're still pure and golden

no bloom off the rose.

Last time in Sweden

a young man named Toews

His shot was so deadly

like laser beam rays.

Gold was the outcome

like the two years before

Next week in Czech-land

Canada goes for four.

Around the same time

as world junior glory

There arose an amazing

Super Bowl story

The man they call Izzy

from Brandon, of all things

Just missed out

on a championship ring.

His Bears from Chicago

came up just shy

But for one week, only

Brandon was sky-high.

Stories like Izzy's

and others we hear

Prove anything's possible

amid all the cheers.

Just take Dustin Penner

who often was cut

Only to wind up in Anaheim

winning the Cup.

And who was the coach?

Why, 'twas Randy Carlyle

That Winnipeg Jet

who stayed here quite a while.

Another old Duck

that Winnipeggers knew

Was quacking with glee

Remember Teemu?

Back to Penner, who went

undrafted by all

He worked his way up

now he stands tall.

So no matter who tells you

you're not good enough

No matter how often

you've heard all that stuff.

There's only one person

who can choose what to do

One person in charge

And that person's you.

When all's said and done

and you've given your all

The score does not matter

nor the shape of the ball.

For if you can look

in the mirror and say

I gave it my best

all with fair play.

Then you've won the battle

right then and there

Hold your head proudly

no need to despair.

So here's to true sportsmen

may you fight the good fight

Merry Christmas to all

and to all a good night.

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